Some Musings on Food: Why I cook, In a Nutshell

Sarabeth Matilsky
October 30, 2002

My sister-in-law's husband is designing and building a perfectly gorgeous deck in their backyard—definitely an artistic achievement. My friend Susannah's art is (among other things) her cogent writing and astute observations about the people around her. My husband, Jeff, makes websites that are beautiful, not-quite-tangible, incredibly useful art. Everyone can be an artist in some way. Lots of people are artists in many ways. Some people get paid for their art, and some don't.

Cooking is one of my favorite ways to make art. I love creating a menu, shopping at the co-op and farmers' market, chopping things, and creating orderly piles of vegetables and messy piles of garlic skins and lemon peels. I love the sizzle as the onion hits the hot olive oil in a cast iron pan. I love sharing the food I create with Jeff and other friends, including my clients. I love cooking for myself, and appreciating the food I've prepared. I love tasting new tastes. I love that after I swallow my food, it is, in an extraordinary process that I don't totally comprehend, converted to energy that my body uses. That is just so amazing.